Revelation-2

"These humans... did you notice it too?" I asked Ariella, trying to confirm whether it was just my hunch or if she had seen it as well.

"I know what you're trying to say, but maybe it's their surroundings that shaped them to be like this. We can't be sure unless we catch one and conduct some experiments," she replied, her voice calm yet calculating.

"What the... When did you become a mad scientist? You're not thinking about harming other humans, right? I will never agree to that."

"I never said forcefully. Aren't you curious why they can fight for so long and have such high stamina despite lacking resources? I can't see them having three meals a day—it would be unsustainable. The only answer I can think of is that they've evolved alongside the virus." Ariella paused, deep in thought.

"I saw a few of them turn. It only took them a few minutes to half an hour before they lost their minds and started attacking other humans. But every time, they were either bitten or ingested contaminated blood through their mouth or wounds. It's not an airborne disease, but I think some part of it affected the population, leading them to become stronger and faster."

"So they've become mutants? Would it also affect me if I took off my protective shield? That couldn't be good for the body, right?" I asked, a mix of curiosity and caution in my tone.

"Don't even think about it! Such genetic modifications must have drawbacks. You can't be reckless if you want to survive. Besides, they don't seem like they're coming here for a chat."

"I can try talking to them. The universal translator managed to decipher that they speak the same language. Most of them are speaking Hindi, but there's a small group speaking Telugu and a few using English. It's like a ragtag band of scavengers, all trying to survive. If I can help them somehow, maybe they'd be grateful and help me locate resources to speed up the repair process of the craft."

Fighting the undead was a necessity, but the idea of killing another human being made me uneasy. I had gone through countless simulations—some about rebellions, others about pirate groups raiding mining bases. Even then, it had taken me a long time to come to terms with the idea of taking another life.

I had to convince myself that what I was shooting weren't real humans but just projections of my mind. That was how I had managed to pass the test. But now, faced with a similar situation in reality, I couldn't bring myself to do it. These were real people, not digital constructs.

"Don't tell me you're chickening out? When will you understand that sometimes you have to use a little force to make others see reason?"

"I don't care how much you shame me. I want to talk to them first before making any drastic moves."

"You foolish human... Why did I ever agree to be your partner? You'll get both of us killed! Can't you understand that we don't have enough power to protect this place? If they really try to break in, I will personally shoot them down!"

"No! You are not the captain of this ship. I make the decisions, and you have a duty to follow my command unless I violate the sacred written rules." I knew the handbook inside and out.

Yet, a lingering doubt remained in my mind after she had disregarded my orders when we first entered the black hole. Did she still recognize my authority? Still, I had to make my stance clear. A ship needed only one captain—two would lead to disaster.

"Foolish human—" Ariella could tell I was serious. She wanted to curse at me but ultimately decided to follow my lead. She could easily defy me, but after spending months together, she realized how stubborn I could be once my mind was set.

Besides, she had a contingency plan if he failed to make contact with these natives. And if he did fail, she'd have the perfect opportunity to berate him for his naïve decisions. Emotions were the true enemies on the battlefield, and sooner or later, in this harsh world, he would learn that lesson myself.

She was almost certain of it—ninety-five percent sure, according to her simulations. In an environment as bleak as this, the birth of the most heinous individuals was inevitable. But Theo didn't seem to grasp it. He was too caught up in his moral ideals. Soon enough, we'd cross paths with unsavory people, and he'd have no choice but to face reality.

Ariella's interface flickered briefly, as if she had noticed an error. She brought up the bird's-eye view, and what we saw astounded us both.

Zombies were disappearing from the streets at an alarming rate.

"What's going on? They're going underground?" I asked, watching a few of them sneak into a manhole.

The destruction around us had left the area riddled with holes and debris, making it easier for them to slip away unnoticed.

Ariella didn't respond immediately. Instead, she dispatched one of the drones to follow the zombies. Its infrared vision would allow us to track them even in the dark.

While it also had a feature to see through walls, the thick layers of concrete made it ineffective here. However, we could still use it to gauge the stability of structures. If the scanner saw through a surface, it meant only a thin wall or two separated spaces. If it failed, then too much debris lay behind it, making it dangerous to attempt clearing a path.

The drone followed the zombie patiently, maneuvering through crevices and cracks with ease. After several minutes of weaving through impossibly tight spaces, the undead finally reached what seemed to be an underground entrance.

"The metro?"

"Yes, it's the underground metro station... but why did it come here?" Ariella was just as puzzled as I was. But before we could think further, more zombies arrived. Then dozens. Then hundreds. The further they went, the larger the horde became.

Soon, our drone could barely catch the entire scene—hundreds, if not thousands, of zombies standing shoulder to shoulder in eerie stillness, much like a disciplined army awaiting their orders.

It was an unnerving sight. Someone—or something—was controlling them.

Just when Ariella considered sending the drone deeper, the horde began to move.

Step by step, they marched forward in perfect unison.

The rusted tracks were overgrown with weeds, remnants of nature reclaiming what had been abandoned. The eerie silence was only broken by the sound of countless feet shuffling in eerie synchronization.

Then, as they reached a larger opening, our screens flickered, revealing something even more shocking.

This was no ordinary horde. This was an army!